12/28/2018
There's Still Time - Tax Tip #7 - 2. Gift Tax Exclusion – The gift tax exclusion is now $15,000. Which means that you can give up to $15,000 per year to as many people as you wish, without paying gift tax. Since the taxable estate tax limit is now $10 million, estate taxes (and thus planning for estate taxes) affects very few of us now.
But I have encouraged my clients, the ones that are of retirement age mostly, to take advantage of the gift tax exclusion and gift some of their money to family members. I believe that the funds that grandparents give to grandchildren when the grandchildren are just beginning their adult lives are sooooo appreciated, and needed, and put to good use, and so much more valuable to the young people than it will be to their parents who will inherit those funds, usually about the time they retire.
So, if you are in that “golden age” and you have money that you don’t expect to need, consider helping out the younger people in the family as they incur those start-up expenses when beginning a family, or buying a house, or paying off student loans, or recovering from a bad personal situation, etc…..
Remember to “share” this post so that your friends can benefit from these tips. And as always, we are available to talk with you or your friends about how any of these tips can help you. AND we would like to help you with your tax preparation and reporting too. Call us for advice or to make an appointment at 615-895-7578.